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It is a tale of two captains with the same dream: To win a Stanley Cup before hanging up their skates for good.

The two careers have followed similar roads and here they are crossing paths in Round 2 of the playoffs.

For 16 years, Jarome Iginla, 35, was the face of the franchise and captain of the Calgary Flames. Then, on March 28 — days before the deadline — with the club going nowhere and trying to rebuild, he was sent packing to Pittsburgh.

For 13 years, Daniel Alfredsson, 40, has been the face of the franchise and the captain of the Ottawa Senators. He has never had to make the decision that was thrust upon Iginla, but their situations are similar in these playoffs.

Iginla won gold with Canada at the Olympics in 2004 (Salt Lake City) and 2010 in Vancouver. Alfredsson wore the gold medal with Team Sweden in 2006 (Torino). They’ve both been to Stanley Cup finals once: Iginla in 2004 and Alfredsson in 2007.

Both are still searching for their first Cup ring this spring.

While Alfredsson has hope with the Senators, Iginla has taken a different route. He turned his back on an offer to join the Boston Bruins at the deadline and shacked up with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins for what he hopes will be a long run.

Both players understand the similarities and comparisons.

“He was the face of the franchise in Calgary for a long time and he’s been very consistent player throughout his whole career,” said Alfredsson Wednesday. “He’s remarkable. He knows how to score goals and he also plays hard all over the ice. He can play physical and drop the gloves as well.

“He’s also at the end of his career. Maybe not as far down the road as I am, but this is also a chance for him to go after that Stanley Cup that we all want to win.”

That’s why they both think so much of each other.

“I have a lot of respect for him. He competes hard and he’s had a great career,” said Iginla. “They’ve turned it around pretty fast, as far as going from rebuilding to get right back in the playoffs.

“A lot of credit to them and him but we’d like to beat him. I know how it feels. As the years go on, you never know when you’re going to get another chance to even be in the playoffs. You hope it’s all in time. It’s not always the case.

“He’d probably agree: You appreciate it that much more as time goes on.”

A lot of eyes are on Iginla.

He was able to choose his destination because of a “no move” clause. He spurned the Bruins after it was believed he'd originally agreed to a deal. The transition has been smooth and the ‘C’ here belongs to Crosby so that pressure has been removed.

“It’s tough being out of the playoffs and this year was tough because we were hoping for a lot more in Calgary,” said Iginla. “It’s hard when you see it slipping away and you know changes are going to be coming.

“Ultimately, I knew I’d probably be moving so it was a little bit different. It’s been a great experience being here. To be back in the playoffs, just to be here, right from Day 1, they’ve been winning, having fun and enjoying playing together.”

Iginla made it clear he didn’t ask for this move. Flames GM Jay Feaster told him the organization was headed in a different direction, Iginla didn’t have a future and the club would like to get assets to help with whatever route Calgary takes.

“I didn’t so much have to make (a decision) this year — it was kind of the circumstances with Calgary being out of the playoffs and my last year of a contract. They were thinking somewhat of a rebuild, a retool or whatever it is,” said Iginla.

“It’s not easy to go through. Part of it is, at the time, because you’re not having success and want the organization to be successful and the team isn’t winning. That’s tough. It’s the change. It’s unknown. It’s unnerving for sure.

“It’s also been home for a lot of years. I grew up playing and grew up outside of hockey there as well. It wasn’t the easiest. Looking back it’s been a great experience. I’m still learning how other cities, organizations and in the room with other guys.

“At first it’s a challenge, but I’m thrilled to be here and it’s been a great experience.”

In Alfredsson's case, talk surfaced earlier in the year when the Senators were hit by devastating injuries the club might ask if he wanted to take one more shot at winning a Cup with someone else. The Bruins were the team most-often mentioned.

The Senators are trailing 1-0 in this series going into Game 2 tonight at the Consol Energy Center, but they have just as much of a chance of winning this as the Penguins. Alfredsson said he understands Iginla moving on from Calgary.

“There’s always what ifs and what could have happened,” said Alfredsson. “I would have loved to have won five Stanley Cups with Ottawa as well if I could choose my own scenario.

“I feel really good about us being back in the playoffs, in the second round, because we all know how hard it is just to get in the playoffs.”

Two years ago with coach Cory Clouston leading the Senators on the road to nowhere and the club undergoing a rebuild, there was also discussion that Alfredsson could be moved. He didn’t go anywhere and had back surgery in the off-season.

If he had been healthy, would he have followed the same path that Iginla is taking right now?

“That’s a difficult question. I don’t know how to answer that,” said Alfredsson.

At the end of this series, either Iginla or Alfredsson will have to wait until next year.

PITTSBURGH — It is a tale of two captains both with the same dream: To win a Stanley Cup before hanging up their skates for good. The two careers have followed similar roads and here they are crossing paths in Round 2 of the playoffs.

For 16 years, Jarome Iginla, 35, was the face of the franchise and captain of the Calgary Flames. Then, on March 28 — days before the deadline — with the club going nowhere and trying to rebuild, he was sent packing to Pittsburgh.

For 13 years, Daniel Alfredsson, 40, has been the face of the franchise and the captain of the Ottawa Senators. He has never had to make the decision that was thrust upon Iginla, but there situations are similar in these playoffs.